/ Istvan – FC Rob Evans
/ Both images borrowed from their Instagram
/ I own none of these images, all used with love and respect <3
/ Rings – enoirvado / Vegas view – Instagram sin1city / Quotes – all taken from Pinterest and none had credit for where they came from.
Istvan arrived back at Cordonia’s airport just outside the capital following a 2-day trip to Italy where he was discussing the broadening of policy on affiliations between Cordonia’s universities and those in Milan, Tuscany and Napoli, allowing fresh talent to come to Cordonia, incentivising them to settle there after their degrees had finished generating fresh skills and boosting the economy. It had certainly been a successful trip, only a few pieces of paperwork remained to be signed off to allow the PR-machine to start full-scale promotion of the initiative. Istvan felt really rather pleased with himself, he much preferred to work on long-term projects that would benefit Cordonia and her people for decades down the line than much of the day to day duties of the monarchy that felt like firefighting a lot of the time.
It had been a successful couple of days working together with the newly appointed education director, but it had been a long couple of days and Istvan could not deny that he was dying to get home. He’d spent the whole time he was away thinking about his wife and their unborn child. It was barely a full 48 hours since he flew into Milan, but he missed them dreadfully. He didn’t want to be apart from them for any longer than necessary, really it should have been a 3-day trip but he’d condensed it, although Vik had rolled her eyes and told him
“Stop fussing Istvan, please? It’s for 3 days, not a month. Go to Italy, do your thing and bring me back some cannoli’s.”
He frowned as he thought about her. Part of the reason he didn’t want to go away at all was that he was concerned about his wife: she just wasn’t herself. He would get a glimpse of her usual funny, bouncy ball of energy persona, but then she would turn so quiet and seem a million miles away. He supposed that she had a lot on her mind; a pregnancy was a much larger change for the woman carrying the child than for the father. But even still, he loved her with all his heart and he couldn’t help but worry about her.
—
Viktoria was perched on the end of the bed, her hand on her stomach. She’d received a text from Istvan when he landed about twenty minutes ago. She’d been thinking a lot since her conversation with Mrs Levy yesterday. She never slept well when Istvan was away, and since they’d found out about the baby she’d hardly slept anyway, so she’d put her ‘lying awake in bed time’ to good use. She’d sat up half the night reading pregnancy forums on the internet. Mrs Levy had made her realise that she wasn’t the only woman who’d ever felt like this. And although on the web she was met with an overwhelming amount of fluffy stories about women who were utterly delighted to be expecting and couldn’t wait for motherhood, it was abundantly clear that she wasn’t alone trapped in her darkness. After reading for hours, Viktoria had noticed one resounding similarity amongst many of the stories of women who said they didn’t feel a connection to their baby or didn’t feel like this was really happening: when they had their scans, their feelings started to change. When they actually saw their baby on that screen, some sort of feeling or bond that hadn’t previously been there seemed to fall into place as they watched on. There were even stories of women who were considering not continuing with their pregnancies, who had a total change of heart when they saw the images on the ultrasound and heard the little heart beating inside of them.
‘That’s it?? Of course, it doesn’t feel real, how could it?? I haven’t actually seen it yet??’
From that moment, Viktoria pinned her hopes on the 12-week scan. Deciding that the ultrasound would be her defining moment:
She would stop feeling like she was watching this was happening to someone else. She wouldn’t have to try to cover up how desperate and ugly and lonely she felt inside. She would be able to engage with Istvan honestly about their new family and a future. She would feel like a mommy. She could be happy.
—
The intercom in the Royal Suite pinged twice, it was a signal that security had devised to alert either the King or Queen that the other was back. Viktoria smoothed her hair and headed to the kitchen to pour a glass of red wine for Istvan, he’d had a really busy couple of days from what she’d picked up on his Skype call last night and the texts he’d sent her. She leaned against the work-surface as she waited for the door to open. When she head the latch turn she walked towards him throwing her arms around his strong frame, almost knocking him off balance. Viktoria knew she missed him, but until she saw his kind eyes smiling at her she didn’t realise how much. Istvan wrapped his arms around his dainty little wife, kissing her forehead as she reached up, cupping his face in her hands,
“Hiii… This is quite a welcome Viktoria. Did you miss me, or do you just want the canolli’s?”
He chuckled as she shook her head,
“I’m so glad you’re back. Can’t I just be pleased to see my lovely husband??”
Istvan ran the back of his had over her pale cheek, winking at her,
“Of course of can. How are you doing? Other than missing me desperately? Are you feeling ok, my love?”
Viktoria nodded quickly,
“Yes I’m fine. Come sit down, I poured you some wine…”
Istvan’s hands moved down to his wife’s curvy hips holding her in place gently as he appraised her figure; she was in a pair of grey skinny jeans and a pretty violet coloured shirt,
“Baby you’re still so skinny, no one would ever guess that our perfect little button is hiding in there…”
Viktoria shrugged,
“Hmm, not much to see this early I guess, probably won’t last much longer.”
Istvan stroked her stomach with his thumb as he grinned at her,
“I can’t wait. You know I can imagine how you’ll look Vik, you’ll be so beautiful with a big bump…”
Viktoria’s head dropped, her dark hair cascading over her face,
“Ist…”
He picked her chin up forcing her to look in his eyes,
“What? You will be… So… Stunningly… Glowingly… Breathtakingly… Gorgeous…”
He punctuated the words with soft, tender kisses. Viktoria flashed him a small smile as she broke away from his embrace; he was everything she’d ever wanted.
“You know when I said ‘no’ when you wanted to make a hospital appointment to confirm things?”
She spoke quietly as her hand covered her stomach; Istvan looked serious as he nodded,
“I don’t want to go to hospital Istvan. I don’t know how to explain it to you, but I’m just not ready to do that yet.”
Viktoria’s eyes started to well up as she tried hard to keep her voice from cracking; she fiddled with the glittering Tiffany necklace he’d bought her, trying her best to focus her mind,
“But I do want to do things properly, for you and… And for the baby. Is there a way you could have the doctor visit me here instead? Like a ‘First Step’?”
Istvan wordlessly raised his hands and wiped her eyes. He regarded her with his brow furrowed, his piercing blue eyes filled with concern as they searched her face, voice soft and low,
“Viktoria I would do anything for you and our baby. If you want a doctor to come here, if that’s more comfortable for you, my love, they will come tomorrow. Whatever you want. Anything. I love you Viktoria. And I will give you whatever you need, just name it, my love. There is nothing in this world more important to me than you and this baby Vik. I just want you both to be happy and healthy.”
—
TBC – VP 💖
